Information Concerning Improved Procedures for Student Discipline on School Bus

The School Board of Hillsborough County commissioned a study of the Transportation Department by MPS Consultants to diagnose needs within the Department, and make recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department. Meetings between members of the Superintendent’s staff and representatives of the Hillsborough School Employees Federation (HSEF) revealed a concern among school bus drivers about the effectiveness of the existing procedures to manage student behavior at school bus stops and on school busses. Meetings with school bus drivers, and information gathering by MPS supported the need for improved procedures.

A group was formed including school bus drivers, assistant principals, principals, and transportation department route coordinators to identify the issues and propose solutions that would improve the transportation system. HSEF identified school bus drivers to participate. Meetings of the group were held on October 4, 5, 9, 11, and November 7, 2006 to identify problems associated with student behavior, best practices among bus drivers and school administrators that enhance positive student behavior, and practices that do not contribute to positive student behavior and high morale among bus drivers.

At the suggestion of members of the School Board the facilitators of the group, Sherrie Sikes, Area Director, Area Five, and Karen Strickland, General Manager of Transportation met with elementary, middle, and high school students on October 18, 2006. These groups included students who use the magnet network, students who ride shorter runs in high traffic areas, and students who ride longer runs in high traffic areas. Principals serving on the group selected students and hosted the meetings at Phillip Shore Magnet Elementary School, Burns Middle School, and Wharton High School. The input from the students was consistent with the recommendations made by the bus drivers and administrators.

The final report of the committee includes a simplified set of procedures, and a clear and simple progressive discipline plan for students who do not adhere to appropriate behavior standards while at bus stops or while riding school busses. Sets of best practices which establish clear expectations for the performance of both bus drivers and administrators were developed. These guidelines will be used by route coordinators, and area directors to support and help improve the performance of all of those involved in the process of managing student behavior at bus stops and on school busses. Additional training for bus drivers to help them develop more effective methods of working with students will be developed and added to the present student behavior management training provided to bus drivers.

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